Ending support for Windows 10 could send 240 million computers to the landfill. Why not install Linux on them?

Gemini24601@lemmy.world to Linux@lemmy.ml – 703 points –
Ending Support For Windows 10 Could Send 240 Million Computers To The Landfill: A Stack Of That Many Laptops Would End Up 600 Km Higher Than The Moon - Gadget Tendency
gadgettendency.com

With support ending for Windows 10, the most popular desktop operating system in the world currently, possibly 240 million pcs may be sent to the landfill. This is mostly due to Windows 11’s exorbitant requirements. This will most likely result in many pcs being immediately outdated, and prone to viruses. GNU/Linux may be these computers’ only secure hope, what do you think?

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Who the fuck throws out their computer when it's still working???

A lot of businesses. I've stocked an entire network lab out of waste bins from buildings with tech companies in them. Laptops, monitors, network gear, cabling. I once scored a whole box of 100W USB-C chargers.

You could make a living reselling stuff online.

I'm sorry, 100W USB-C is throwaway stuff now? Wut?

Federal, state and local government , multinational companies and boomers.

Literally just talked to my mother-in-law who was talking about throwing out her laptop because Windows 10 is losing support and she can't upgrade to Windows 11.

It would probably run linux perfectly.

But I would never put linux on it. I am not doing tech support for my MIL who just admitted to me that she "locked down her machine because she fixed the registry issues windows has and turned on ipv6 on her router" and alluded to changing other settings but she cant understand why her "wifi keeps dropping out" and thinks its because the neighbors installed a ring doorbell.

Except for that last part, sounds somewhat plausible...

Doorbell is wireless, from temu, and is missing FCC compliance sticker.

Just a hunch.

State governments usually are required to place all of their computers up for sale through surplus. (Hard drives usually removed and destroyed). I have been through that process at a State College and a University. They aren't just thrown away. I imagine there is a similar process for federal computer.

True they give it to "recyclers" who try to sell what they can and throw the rest. I know this because I used to work for the "recyclers"

Yeah, when access to raspberry pi's and such was none existant I knew a few people who would pick up old Optiplex computers and such to use as media servers and such. Old dells used to be very reliable. Throw whatever distro on there gui or not, and the shitty graphics cards wouldn't matter much

All of whom have processes software and employees who are not prepared to swap to Linux